TEMECULA: Legislative summit: Hold the legislators

NICOLE SACK - Staff Writer

TEMECULA -- For the last five years, the Temecula Valley Chamber
of Commerce has hosted a Legislative Summit to address concerns
working professionals have with the current business and political
climate.

This year, the chamber is trying something different: Not
inviting any legislators.

"We want to get real answers about what is happening (in) the
state, with fuel costs and what might be coming down the road,"
said Roger Ziemer, a chamber board member. "We don't want someone
who will just dance around the questions that the collective
business community has on its mind. We're hoping this year's summit
will be refreshing."

The fifth annual Legislative Summit is scheduled to take place
from 7:30 to 10 a.m. Thursday at the Pechanga Resort & Casino.
Tickets, which are $40 per person, can be purchased online.

Another difference from years past is that the format of this
year's summit will mimic the format of television shows such as the
McLaughlin Group or CNN's Crossfire, where long-winded
introductions and extensive autobiographies of panelists will be
forsaken in exchange for roundtable talks.

"This way we can get all the guests involved on the same
question," Ziemer said. "It may not be their area of expertise --
but they have opinions."

Longtime Sacramento Bee political columnist Dan Walters will
mediate the panel discussion by experts in the fields of law
enforcement, education, state policy, business, energy and
water.

"These are people with expertise and who can talk freely and
openly about the issues," said Ziemer, who chaired the seven-member
committee to organize the event. "These are issues that touch
everybody, no matter if they are business people or
constituents."

Ziemer said that while he expects thoughtful dialogue that will
help inform individuals, he does not promise that attendees will
leave with a warm fuzzy feeling.

"The issues we are seeing with Fannie (Mae) and Freddie (Mac)
happened because no on wanted to talk about it," he said. "But just
as we might not what to talk about what is happening with
California's water supply, we have to face it."

Walters has been a journalist for more than 40 years, and has
spent all but a few of those years working for California
newspapers.

- Long, the former secretary of education, has more than 40
years of experience in the field of education. Before his
appointment by the governor, Long was the Riverside County
superintendent of schools.

- Pacheco is Riverside County's district attorney and a former
state assemblyman.

- Carson, the state's deputy legislative analyst, is responsible
for five of the state office's sections: health, social services,
criminal justice, resources and transportation.

- Dougher is the senior economic analyst for the American
Petroleum Institute. He is the author or co-author of numerous
economic research studies covering a diverse range of topics
including gasoline taxes, energy conservation and competition in
retail markets.

- Thomas is the assistant general manager and chief financial
officer for Metropolitan Water District and is responsible for
developing and implementing Metropolitan's water rates and
charges.

- Topp is regional director of state government affairs for
Abbott Vascular.